McIlroy aims to recapture high ground from Woods

Ulsterman capable of defying indifferent form

Peter Dixon

Thursday June 13 2013, 1.01am, The Times

McIlroy gets to grips with Merion yesterday and hopes to reach his peak

DAVID CANNON

Peter Dixon

Thursday June 13 2013, 1.01am, The Times

There was a time when Tiger Woods would have little to do with those he considered his main rivals — particularly in the week of a major championship. It was important to keep an air of mystique around himself and to go about his business in his own time and on his own terms. In the eyes of many, he became superhuman, not of this world. And how it worked in his favour.

Would Rory McIlroy have benefited from adopting the same approach towards Woods, one wonders? At the end of last year, the Northern Irishman was flying high. He already had two major titles to his name, was ranked No 1 in the world and had tied up the money lists on both sides